A few years ago writer Helen Garner began following her grandson Amby's under-16s football team. She went along to all the games, and to every training session, shivering on the sidelines at dusk, fascinated by the spectacle.
It was a chance to spend more time with her youngest grandchild before he rushed headlong into manhood, and it also gave her a new writing project.
As Helen began writing about Amby and his season, she began to realise that part of the story was about the 'ordinary beauty of human society'.
Further information
The Season is published by Text
Thankyou to Matilda Books for creating the live event recorded by the ABC for this program
Image Details
Garner lives next door to her daughter's family – including the young Amby – in Melbourne's western suburbs.
Human Interest, Australian Rules Football, Family, Men